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A comfortable victory: Tennis player who had breast reduction to ease back pain enjoys win in first round at Wimbledon

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Simona Halep, who had breast reduction surgery to help her game, comfortably won her first round match against Bojana Jovanovski

At the age of 17, Simona Halep decided that nothing would stand in the way of her ambition to make it to the top in tennis. And that included her generous curves.

She underwent extensive breast reduction surgery to take her from a 34DD to a more modest 34C and as a result rocketed up 450 places in the world rankings.

Two years on, she breezed through her first-round match yesterday and said she was looking forward to a ‘successful Wimbledon’.

Before and after: In 2008 at the French Open girls' singles, left, and today at Wimbledon, right

When she burst on to the scene as a junior champion at the French Open in 2008, Miss Halep’s bountiful chest attracted lots of attention and a growing male fan base.

But she found it was uncomfortable, caused her severe back pain and hampered her movement on court, leaving her ranked 500 in the world.

Following the operation, the Romanian teenager spent several months resting before resuming her career last summer.

She had revealed her decision to fans before going under the knife – and many (presumably male) petitioned her in an attempt to persuade her to reconsider.

Serena Williams was on Centre court as she began her bid for a fifth Wimbledon crown against Aravane Rezai

Serena Williams was overcome with emotion at the end of her match against France's Aravane Rezai, having endured one of the toughest years of her career since she last played in SW19

Diana Ross was there to watch Serena Williams on Centre Court, and found herself surrounded by members of the England cricket team

Celebrating their own victory: Fresh from beating Sri Lanka in the test series, England cricketers Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss enjoy a drink with other team members

But she said her mind was made up.

‘My ability to react quickly was worse and my breasts made me uncomfortable.’Her large chest guaranteed her attention - and won her a few male admirers - but for Romanian tennis hopeful Simona Halep it was a hindrance.

The extra weight on her chest was uncomfortable and caused severe back pain, which affected her performance on the court - so she decided to have breast-reduction surgery.

And the 19-year-old Romanian today continued to reap the rewards of her decision with a comfortable victory against her Serbian opponent, Bojana Jovanovski, 19, winning 6-1 6-2.

Halep was first noticed on her way to becoming junior champion at the French Open in 2008. In a bid to boost her game, she spent much of the following year recovering from the surgery, which took her cup size down from 34DD to a more modest 34C.

Vitalia Diatchenko displays her power on her way to defeat at the hands of 25th seed Daniela Hantuchova

Currently ranked 58 in the world, she is playing in her first Wimbledon.

At the time she explained her decision to fans, saying: 'It’s the weight that troubles me. My ability to react quickly, my breasts make me uncomfortable when I play.

'I don’t like them in my everyday life, either. I would have gone for surgery even if I hadn’t been a sportswoman.'

Another player who was attracting much attention today was Serena Williams as she began her attempt to claim a fifth Wimbledon title - and third in a row - despite barely lifting a racquet in anger in the past year.

Afterwards she burst into tears oivercome with emotion as she tried to put behind her one of the toughest years of her career

Williams fought through a mid-match slump, re-establishing her authority in the third set with her big serve and powerful groundstrokes.

Tennis fans wait in a queue hoping for better weather45 than disrupted yesterday's play

The sun broke through early in the day, giving the fans something to smile about

She showed why she is still considered a title favourite despite her long layoff after two foot operations and blood clots on her lungs.

After serving her 13th ace to close out the match, Williams buried her face in her towel and sobbed as she sat on her courtside chair. She was still crying as she walked off the court.

Meanwhile, with Andy Murray safely through in the men's draw, all eyes were on the all-British match between Anne Keothavong and Naomi Broady, which British number 3 Keothavong comfortably won 6-2 6-4.

The day started with organisers having to try and clear a heavy backlog of play after rain wiped out hours of tennis on the opening day.

It may only be day two of the tournament but torrential downpours yesterday meant a series of games were suspended and others did not even begin.

But despite the weather, fans were warned about sunstroke today after 85 people were treated at Wimbledon yesterday despite some of the heaviest rain in years.

Anne Keothavong shakes hands with Naomi Broady of after winning their first round all-British affair

American star Andy Roddick was watched by his wife Brooklyn Decker during his first round match

Slovakia's Karol Beck and Argentina's Carlos Berlocq play out their game under blue skies, in stark contrast to the torrential rain of yesterday evening

The bad weather meant the roof was closed for Murray's match, which did not start until 6.30pm yesterday evening

Bags of support: Murray's kitbag with the messages from fans

Supporters entered an online competition to have their messages displayed on Murray's bag

Early on in the game it was hard watching for his mother Judy and girlfriend Kim Sears

At full stretch: Murray lost the first sense but once his game clicked into gear he completed a comfortable victory

Andy Murray acknowledges the Centre Court crowd carrying the bag with messages of support

John Isner poses after finally claiming victory on the third day of his first round match against Nicolas Mahut